story of another us 》michael clifford

Chapter 6: What?

Michael had just gone home from Hearstfield. Talking to Ashton was like talking to a wall, only Ashton answers but doesn't give any real responses. Their conversation just led to one threat to another.

"You gotta stop messing with her, Michael. She's not to be messed with." Ashton says to Michael cautiously. "I'm not messing with her, I'm messing with you." Michael responds. 

"Just. Stop. I don't have the answers to your questions." Ashton says, his jaw was now clenched. "Bullshit. You know where Lucian is and you know he beat Luke up." Michael took a menacing step towards Ashton.

"If I knew where he was, why would I want to cover for him? You and I both know what he had me do, and threatened me with!" Ashton whisper-yells at Michael. Michael scoffs, "You're still in his gang, that explains a lot."

"I don't do Lucian's dirty work anymore, many of the Arachnes don't anymore." Ashton states. "Stop lying, Ashton. Let's make it easier for both of us." Michael groans. "I'm not lying! If it makes you feel better, you can ask the other members themselves. No one knows where Lucian is." Ashton raises his voice.

"If I find him, which I will, I will make sure you both rot in hell. So speak up while you still have time, Irwin." Michael threatens Ashton, their faces inches apart. "Careful Michael, I still may have this sprain in my ankle but I still have one good leg and two arms that can shut you up." Ashton spats.

"I'll let you off easy this time, and the next time I ask you, I expect a location." Michael says, glancing at Ashton before leaving the room. Ashton sighs as he walks slowly out.

The words, "she's not to be messed with" rang in Michael's brain. Ashton said it like it meant something else. Besides that Ashton would protect her from him.

Michael trudges upstairs, careful not to wake up his parents, he undressed off of his clothes and changed into his sleeping ones. As he lays in bed, he couldn't shake off the image of Amara.

He was intrigued with her. It was like every time they lock eyes, either couldn't gaze away. And he couldn't stop thinking about her either. He sighs as he heads off to sleep.

"We gather here today to celebrate the life of Darren Willows, who has now returned to his home with Our God, The Father." The priest says from the front to the numerous people crying and weeping.

"Who's Daren Willows?" 

Michael was confused, he knew he was dreaming but somehow, it felt so real. He knew he could open his eyes, but he didn't want to. He walks around, it seemed that no one noticed him. So he leaned by a wall, by the front.

The mass continues on, as it was time to bless the corpse, as the relatives line up to take turns, he spots a familiar face, covered in a short black veil. As she lifts it up, Michael gasps. 

She looked a lot like Amara. No, she was Amara. He thought. She looks exactly the same. He could tell that she had been crying. Did Amara lose someone?  Is that what Ashton had been talking about? 

Michael's curiosity grew stronger when he heard Amara say, "I won't ever find another one like you. I won't ever find another set of green eyes that melts up my heart." He looks around and stands near the casket. 

And his face turned pale when he was literally looking at himself. "Darren?" Amara says, as Michael looks up, meeting those familiar green eyes. "Amara?"

Michael bolts awake, panting. Amara called him Darren, his dead version. He was so terrified. His whole body was shaking with terror. He was so confused. Why was he dreaming about that? Why did he see himself in a casket, dead? What did it mean?